Pursue Your Ambition with Unwavering Dedication: UGC NET English Topper Kunal Kashyap

University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test 2026 ( UGC NET )

Swayam
Swayam Gupta
Associate Senior Executive
Updated on Aug 10, 2023 17:06 IST
Kishore Kunal Kashyap shares his preparation strategy and success story with Shiksha. The upcoming aspirants can read the article to get motivation and a proper preparation strategy from a topper. Check the preparation tips to crack UGC NET in first attempt with proper guidance of a topper.

Kishor Kunal Kashyap, UGC NET English topper shared his preparation strategy and success story with Shiksha. Read the complete interview to know about the preparation strategy and tips to crack UGC NET exam.

UGC NET exam, UGC NET interview, english literature, UGC NET 2023 English Literature

UGC NET English Topper

 

Meet Kishor Kunal Kashyap, who is a testament to true hard work and dedication. Kunal switched to English Literature as a Master's after his graduation in Physics honors due to his interest and love for literature. After completing his master's Kunal decided to take one of the toughest and sought exams in India, UGC NET. Kunal was unable to take any coaching classes or hire a private tutor for the preparation.He started off by setting a rigorous study schedule for himself which included hours of devotion to self-study.

Also Read:

On the day of the exam, Kunal was confident and well-prepared. He tackled questions with ease, drawing upon her extensive knowledge and training and when the results were announced, Kunal's hard work and determination paid off. This was a proud moment for Kunal and his family, and it was well-deserved recognition. 

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   When should I start preparing for UGC NET exam?
A: 
The ideal time to start preparing for the UGC NET exam varies from person to person and depends on several factors such as your familiarity with the subject, the level of understanding of the topics covered in the syllabus, and the amount of time and effort you can devote to the preparation. However, as a general guideline, it is recommended that you start preparing for the exam at least 6-8 months before the exam date. This will give you sufficient time to cover the entire syllabus, revise the important topics, solve mock tests and previous year papers, and identify your strengths and weaknesses. If you are already familiar with the subject and have a good understanding of the topics covered in the syllabus, you can start preparing for the exam 3-4 months before the exam date. However, if you are new to the subject or need to improve your understanding of the topics, you may need to start preparing earlier. It is important to note that the UGC NET exam is a highly competitive exam, and the level of competition is increasing every year. Therefore, it is important to start preparing early and stay consistent with your preparation. With a focused approach and consistent effort, you can increase your chances of qualifying for the UGC NET exam.
Staying updated about the latest educational events is just a click away
Enter Mobile Number

The candidates preparing for UGC NET can go through the interview with Twinkle to get the UGC NET preparation strategy and tips to crack the exam.

Tell us something about your background?

- Kishor Kunal Kashyap is my name. After finishing my degree in science, I decided to major in literature. My interest in literature led me to get a master's degree in the subject from Central University, where I also qualified for the National Eligibility Test (NET) with a score of 98.99 percent. My study involves looking at the tale of Sita from new angles i.e. Myth and Literature.

Upcoming Sarkari Exam Dates

UPSC IAS Main Result 2025

11 Nov '25 - 30 Apr '26

SBI Clerk 2026 application form

31 Jul '26

IBPS PO 2026 Prelims Exam

22 Aug '26 - 23 Aug '26

SBI PO Notification 2026

30 Aug '26

IBPS Clerk 2026 notification

31 Aug '26

Why you’ve chosen this exam? Which other exams did you appear in and which you have been able to crack?

- I've always wanted to help others learn through teaching, and passing the UGC NET test is one of the prerequisites. I decided to take the test since I'm fascinated by the study area. I have appeared for the NDA, SSC, BPSC(Lecturer) and qualified for the preliminary stage

Also Read: UGC NET Topper English Sucess Story and Preparation Tips 

How much time did you prepare for the NET? Did you crack it in the first attempt? 

- I dedicated 6 months to preparing for the exam. It was my first attempt and yes, I cracked it also, consecutively cleared in December too. Twice a year.

Tell us about the challenges you faced while preparing for the exam.

- There is a variety of information and resources, and the curriculum covers a vast amount of ground because of recent additions. The biggest obstacles are managing time effectively and finishing all the course material.

Did you take any coaching for the exam? If yes, from where and for how long? If not, how you managed to do self-study?

- I decided against enrolling in a prep course. I learned a lot from the many videos available on YouTube that assisted me in passing the exam. With the aid of the videos and books, I compiled my own notes, which proved to be quite useful. To pass the test, you must practice using questions from the previous year.

How to prepare for UGC NET exam? Tell us the strategy you applied to prepare for the exam.

- Read as much as you can from the PYQs. The only way to really grasp the pattern is via repeated application. Knowing how much time should be spent on each unit requires familiarity with the course outline. Each of the two papers is worth 10 units. Paper 1 is a prerequisite that must be passed before moving on to Paper 2. Common sense and the basics are covered in Paper 1. An informative book would be very useful. You have three hours to complete 150 questions on a test, so time management is crucial. Time-consuming components of Paper 1 include mathematical and logical reasoning, and data analysis.

Also Read: Succes Story of Komal Sharma (UGC NET Topper Political Science)

Tell us about the UGC NET study routine?

- Regularly engaging in the practice of multiple-choice questions and developing a comprehensive comprehension of the underlying ideas hold significant importance. A daily practice duration of 6 to 7 hours would likely prove to be enough.

Also Read:

What should be the section-wise preparation strategy?

- Spend your time wisely considering your abilities and limitations. You may save time by skimming through the material you already know well. When it comes to the unfamiliar material, take the time to read it through and take notes.

Can you refer to some good books for UGC NET preparation?

- I can't say that about the books but the books best worked for me are:

  • Routledge by Ronal Carter, William j long
  • Beginning Theory by Peter Bary, An Introduction to Cultural Studies. Pramod K. Nayar
  • Contemporary Literary and Cultural Theory
  • Book by Pramod K Nayar
  • R Gupta’s Pyqs 

What according to you were the easiest and toughest sections?

- All of Paper 1 was unfamiliar to me, making it difficult to figure out how to study for it. While I knew some of the material in Paper 2, there was a lot that I didn't know. It was challenging for me to remember and study the material on cultural studies and literary theory that was included. Data interpretation, logical thinking, and mathematical reasoning were not difficult for me.

How you tackled your strong and weak areas?

- Since it's not a good idea to try to learn anything new or challenging just before an exam, I had a decent grasp of the topics in my weak areas from the minute I began studying. One month before the test, one should sit down with a stopwatch to practice multiple-choice questions (MCQs) following the exam's format. 

Also Read:

After clearing the exam, how can anyone find a job?

- If you pass the test, you may go on to JRF's PhD programme. Aspirants may be mentored. One may work as an assistant professor or a research fellow depending on their area of expertise.

What are your hobbies? Did you attribute it to the preparation?

- I like poetry writing, reading, and taking on difficult new experiences. I credit my success to my doggedness and willingness to take risks.

Read More: Shivani Karn UGC NET English Literature Topper Interview

About the Author
author-image
Swayam Gupta
Associate Senior Executive

Law Education & Competitive Exams Content Specialist

Role: Senior Content Writer, Shiksha.com

Swayam writes content specializing in the law education and competitive exams domain, with around two year of experience

Read Full Bio
Download Important Dates for Sarkari Exams Exams

News & Updates

Latest NewsPopular News

Explore Other Exams

Mar '26

CSIR NET 2026 June Application...

Mar '26

CSIR NET 2026 June Notificatio...

19 Dec '25

SSC JE Tier 1 Provisional Answ...

19 Dec '25 -

22 Dec '25

SSC JE Tier 1 Answer Key Objec...

4 Oct '25 -

6 Oct '25

Application Correction

1 Oct '25 -

3 Oct '25

HP TET Nov 2025 Application Wi...

Aug '25

Kerala SET 2025 July Exam

12 Jun '25

Kerala SET 2025 July Applicati...

29 Sep '25

KTET Answer Key

18 Sep '25 -

19 Sep '25

KTET Exam Date

Aug '26

SBI PO Notification 2026

Aug '26

SBI PO Application Form 2026

17 Dec '25

OTET Exam Date

10 Dec '25

OTET Admit Card

1 Feb '26

IBPS RRB Clerk 2025 Mains Exam

28 Dec '25

IBPS RRB 2025 Single Online Ex...

Feb '26

TS TET Result 2026

30 Jan '26

TSTET Initial Answer Key 2026

Nov '25

UPSC IAS Main Result 2025

May '26

IAS Prelims Admit Card 2026 Is...

The list of exams are recommended based on what other exams do the students in your area show interest in
qna

Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered 3 weeks ago

No. Once the admit card is released, candidate will not be able to change the exam centre in any circumstances. The exam centre mentioned on the hall ticket is final. Also, the assigned exam centre is based on the choices of the candidate made during the application process and can not be modified l

...Read more

I

Ishita Kaur

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 3 weeks ago

No. A candidate will not receive the UGC NET City Intimation Slip by post. The authority will release the City slip on the official website at ugcnet.nta.nic.in. Candidates required their login credentials to download the city slip including the application number and date of birth.

V

Virajita Shukla

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 3 weeks ago

Yes. It is important for a candidate to carry the UGC NET admit card to the examination centre. Without it, candidate will not be allowed to sit in the exam. It consists of the details like name of a candidate, photograph, shift, reporting time, exam day instructions, etc.

S

Shikha Goyal

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 weeks ago

If in case candidate find any discrepancy in the UGC NET admit card for the June session then he or she must contact the NTA via helpline numbers 011-40759000 during the working hours or email them. 

K

Kritika Sharma

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 3 weeks ago

The UGC NET admit card for the June session 2026 will be released around four days prior to the examination date. It will be released on the official website at ugcnet.nta.nic.in. 

N

Nitesh Pruthi

Contributor-Level 6

Answered a month ago

Yes, IIT Hyderabad does accept UGC NET scores to decide admissions to the PhD courses. Several IIT Hyderabad departments also accept the GATE scores as well to decide the PhD admissions of candidates.

In addition to the aforementioned entrance exams, candidates are also required to fulfill the specif

...Read more

S

Saurabh Khanduri

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

Candidates can check below the methods to make corrections if required in the UGC NET application or registration form:

  • Visit at ugcnet.nta.nic.in
  • Login using the application number and password
  • Click on the link/button available for the application form correction
  • Read the instructions and click on the

...Read more

M

Manisha Singh

Contributor-Level 6

Answered a month ago

The NTA has not yet released the UGC NET 2026 notification and so the application process dates have not been announced for the June session. It is expected that the application is likely to start in April 2026 and the last date for the registration may likely be in May 2026. The authority will also

...Read more

C

Chanchal Shekhar

Contributor-Level 6

Answered a month ago

Yes, the National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts the UGC NET exam twice in a year in two sessions namely June and December session. Candidates can give the exam unlimited times. There is no limit in number of attempts. Two sessions increase the opportunity for a candidate to qualify the exam for JRF

...Read more

S

Satyendra Garg

Contributor-Level 6

Answered a month ago

The registration for the UGC NET 2026 June session is expected to begin in the April 2026. The authority will release the application form and notification on the official portal at ugcnet.nta.nic.in. Without filling the application form online, candidates will jot be able to sit in the exam.

I

Ishita Kaur

Contributor-Level 6